Manufacture of dominos



(NoModelJ G. 0. SHEPHERD.

MANUFACTURE OF DOMINOBS, CHECKS, AND SIMILAR ARTIQLBS. No. 274,668. Patented Mar. 27, 1883.

UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

I CHARLES C. SHEPHERD, OF PASSAIG, NEW JERSEY.

MANUFACTURE OF DOMINOS,CHECKS, AND S IMILAR ARTICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 274,668, dated March 27,. 1883. Application filed December 29, 18 82. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that LCHARLES 0. SHEPHERD, of Passaic, in the county of Passaic and-State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in the Manufacture of Dominos, Checks, and Similar Articles, of which the following is a specification.

Celluloid, artificial ivory, and similar materials have been applied as an enamel or surface to piano-keys, cards, and other articles, and in some instances the article has been inlaid by pressure.

The object of the present inventionis to lessen the cost-of the domino, check, or similar article, and at the same time produce an article thatis exceedingly durable, even when exposed to the wear or abrasion usual with dominos, checks, &c.

I make use of a foundation of wood or similar materialsuch as vulcanite, gelatinized fiber, paper, or papier-mach, the same being of a black or dark: color, or of a color that con trasts with the color of the surfacing materialand to this foundation I applyathin layer of opaque celluloid, artificial ivory, or similar material, in an adhesive or plastic condition, and I press the same-firmly into contact with the foundation material by a die that has upon its surface raised figures, numbers, or spots, so that the m opaque material is displaced where the projections come into contact with it, and the surface of the foundation material is laidbare. Hence when the die is removed the spots of the dominos, the numbers or designs onthe checks or other articles, are very prominent in consequence of v the light color of the coating, contrasted with the dark color of the foundation that is visible at the bottom of the recesses or spots produced by the die. After this has been done the checks or dominos are finished by sawing apart, polishing, or otherwise completing.

In the drawings, Figure l is a face view of a portion of the die. Fig. 2 is a section of i the die at the line a: m. Fig. 3 is a section of the prepared slab ready to be impressed. Fig. 4. is a section of the same afterimpression by the die, and Fig. 5 represents a number-check as made by me.

The slab. a, of wood or other material, is black or of a dark color. Upon this is laid a thin sheet, b, of opaque whitecelluloid or equivalent material, either in a semi-liquid or plastic state, so that it will adhere or may be made to. adhere by a cement or glue. The die a is made with knobs or projectionsi and ribs 0, either straight or curved. These stand out from the surface of the die a sufficient distance, so that when the die is pressed upon the thin sheet the projections will displace the same and pass through to the surface of the slab of wood or other material, leaving the surface recessed and the color of the wood visible at the bottom of the recesses.

In the manufacture of dominos the ribs 0 form the lines at which'the slab is separated by sawing. I remark that the whole ofthe dominos should be represented upon the'die, so that a complete set is pressed at each movement of the die; but, if desired, the dominoblanks may be cut up before being impressed."

With checks with numbers or other marks for barbers, cloak-rooms, restaurants,f&c., the

do I claim embossing wood endw'ise of the grain and coating the same with celluloid or other material and then surfacing the same by the removal of the higher portions of the design. By my improvement the surfacing material has cavities pressed into it, so that the backing is visible through such cavities, and the domino has the ordinary appearance, with recessed spots.

I claim as my invention- 1. The domino or check having aback and a surface of celluloid or other similar material recessed to show the spots or marks through the surfacing, substantially as set forth. 7

2. The method herein specified of making dominos, checks, or similar articles, consisting in surfacing a slab of dark material with adhesive layer of opaque light-colored celluloid or similar material, and then pressing openings through such surfacing by a die, so as to render-the dark back visible, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me this 27th day of December, A. D. 1882.

Witnesses: CHAS. O. SHEPHERD.

GEO. T. PINGKNEY, WILLIAM G. Mom. 

